Stigma, discrimination and rights of PLHIV, PABA and OVC

The act of
stigma and discrimination have contributed negatively to the social living of
some groups of people in our world today. Not only does it affect our social
life negatively, but it has cut across our economic life and some other vital
aspects of living. In this page we shall be looking at stigma and
discrimination as it affects PLHIV, PABA and OVC with some practical approach
that can be adopted in preventing them.

Note the meaning
of the following acronyms:

PLHIV: People living with HIV

PABA: People affected by AIDS

OVC: Orphans and vulnerable children

PLHIV as the
name implies are simply people who are infected with HIV and are still living
with the virus. Some might have enrolled in a management program in which drugs
(antiretroviral therapy) are been administered to them periodically so as to
reduce the viral load, and makes them live a normal life.

PABA are simply
those affected by AIDS, like the saying goes "if you are not infected by
AIDS, you might be affected by it". PABAs are simply relatives, friends or
colleagues to people that are been infected with the virus, or those that might
have died as a result of AIDS.

OVCs are those
children without specific parents or guardians. They are left to wander and
scavenge in the streets which are filled with various vices, thereby exposing
them or making them vulnerable to HIV infection.

Stigma and discrimination

Acts of
discrimination deny people’s rights to information, to services to protect them
against HIV infection, and to receive appropriate treatment, care and support
when HIV-positive. Fear of stigma and discrimination discourage people from
seeking information on HIV&AIDS, coming forward for counselling and
testing, disclosing their status or accessing AIDS services.
We will not achieve Universal Access without reducing stigma and discrimination.
The fear of the consequences of stigma
keeps people from adopting preventive behaviour. In some cases, stigma can
prevent families from giving or accepting care. Fear of stigma can deter PLHIV from
adhering to their drugs and healthcare order to conceal their positive status.
As a result, stigma and discrimination compromise AIDS responses.

a. HIV
Stigmacan
be defined as an unfavourable attitude—of disapproval or reproach within a
social process that is directed towards individuals or groups who are seen to
be different from others because of their HIV positive status. This could be
in form ofcalling them by unacceptable labels.

b. HIV
Discriminationis an unfair action given to an individual as a result of
his/her being HIV positive. This could also be the treatment of an
individual or group withpartiality or prejudice

Note: stigma
is the attitude, while discrimination is the action.

Reasons for stigma
and discrimination against PLHIV, PABA and OVC

Stigma and discrimination against PLHIV, PABA and OVC can
arise because of the following reasons listed below:

1. Fear of getting the virus through
closeness to a PLHIV, PABA and OVC

Many
misinformed people believed that just a mere contact with this set of people
makes them to be infected with the virus as well. This piece of information is
just a misconception and 100% untrue.

2. Ignorance of facts about HIV and AIDS

Many
people that forms the habit of stigmatising have little or no adequate
knowledge about HIV and AIDS. As a result of this, they tend to rely on
negative assumptions and misconceptions. That is why proper knowledge should be
encouraged.

3. Misconceptions about and
misinformation on HIV and AIDS

Misconception
gives birth to the first two reasons listed above. Since they do not have a
proper knowledge, they tend to manufacture theirs which does not have a medical
or scientific basis.

4. Moral bias arising from the erroneous
belief that HIV is as a result of promiscuity

Many
people that engage in the stigmatisation and discriminative act against PLHIV
believes that their ordeal is as a result of their promiscuous kind of life,
this is quite untrue. There are various means of transmission of the virus
which does not include sexual intercourse alone.

5. Inability of the government to protect PLHIV, PABA and OVC

Another
reason, which i should say is the major reason, is the inability of the
government to protect this set of people against been stigmatised. Laws need to
be enacted so that their rights can be protected because they are still humans
like every one of us.

Negative Effects of stigma and discrimination on PLHIV,
PABA and OVC and the society

1. Continued
spread of the disease

2. Poor
utilization of HCT services.

3. Poor
access to antiretroviral therapy

4. Poor
adherence to drug therapy

5. Loss
of job, housing, rejection by families and friends.

6. Loss
of skilled labour

7. Psychological
trauma for PLHIV

8. Early
deaths due to isolation from loved ones

9. Emotional
challenges for those whose relatives are PLHIV

10. Inadequate
psycho-social support from the society.

Practical Steps you can adopt to prevent HIV-Related
Stigma and Discrimination

As listed earlier, you will
observe that the major reason behind stigma and discrimination on PLHIV, PABA
and OVC is lack of adequate information concerning HIV/AIDS, myths and
misconceptions. Below are some practical steps that can be adopted in order to
prevent such negative act.

1. Involve people living with HIV in
public education

Just
as i am rendering in this post, PLHIV needs to educated so that they can know
their rights as a human being. Actually, being infected with the virus is never
a death sentence, they still have the right to live normal life like everybody
does. They need to be educated so that they can enrol in a HIV care and support
program where further useful information will be passed unto them.

2. Involve and support families and
communities (infected and affected)

The
communities and society at large needs to educated as well so that they can
have adequate knowledge about HIV and AIDS and as well learn how to have a
mutual relationship with infected people. They should also have the knowledge
about the various means of transmission of the virus so that they will not get
themselves infected on the long run.

3. Involve leaders from all sectors of
the society, especially the faith communities

The
government and leaders of the countries should not be left out as well. They
should be educated about HIV and AIDS, and they should know as well that it is
their duty to cater and care for their citizens (those infected and affected)
so as to eliminate the spread of the deadly virus. The faith communities
involved various religious groups, they should be aware that issues about HIV
and AIDS should not be a taboo discussion in their meetings, because proper
knowledge about a particular issue renders appropriate solutions to it.

4. Educate health workers so that they
are not reluctant to treat people living with HIV

Health
workers should also be educated on issues concerning HIV and AIDS. They should
not be afraid to deal with infected people, because with them following the
right precautionary methods, there are no possibilities of them getting
infected. They should be aware that it is their duty to provide health care and
support to those infected. They should be working hand-in-hand with the
government and various non-governmental organisations and health care
providers.

5. Ensure access to confidential and
anonymous HIV testing

HIV
testing is the first or entry point in any HIV prevention program.
Confidentiality on the test results should be ensured on the various testers,
it is highly unprofessional for the HIV test result of a person to be disclosed
to the public without his or her personal consent. If they wishes for it to be
disclosed, allow them to do it themselves.

6. Integrate HIV prevention into primary
health care

HIV
prevention program should be integrated into every primary healthcare. Since it
has become a pandemic, then adequate measures should be used to combat it right
from the grass root. Regular testing should also be encouraged among patients.

7. Communicate that HIV-related discrimination
is illegal

Laws
should be enacted against HIV-related stigma and discrimination. This is to
ensure the security of their right, and also pass judgement to as many that
will go against it. Many of such laws have been placed in Nigeria today, but
who can count how effective they have been?

8. Support and promote legal services
for those discriminated against

Just as i stated above
concerning the various laws that have already been in place. There is a need to
promote such laws to the general public for them to know that stigma and
discrimination against this set of people is illegal, and every culprit will be
punished by the law. Such laws and services should be rightly promoted.

In
summary, young people and every individual should make every effort to educate
their friends about the need to care for PLHIV, PABA and OVC in order to reduce
stigma and discrimination. Feel free to share this article if you find the
information contained in it to be useful.